Holding steady.
Popularity of Butler since 1880
Babies named Butler per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1919, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Butler's real moment was 1886.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 84 |
| 1890s | 87 |
| 1900s | 54 |
| 1910s | 199 |
| 1920s | 184 |
| 1930s | 121 |
| 1940s | 127 |
| 1950s | 65 |
| 1960s | 35 |
| 1970s | 10 |
| 1980s | 10 |
| 1990s | 11 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Butler is a rare given name with roots in the English occupational surname tradition. It has never been common, but its most notable period was in the 1880s, peaking in 1886. Since then, its usage has been stable at very low levels. The name did not rank in the top 1000 in any recent year, and its '1 in N' figure is effectively undefined. It is almost exclusively used for boys, and its top states of historical usage are sparse. Butler carries a stately, pre-professional air, akin to other surname-names like Porter or Cooper, but remains far less frequent. Parents choosing Butler today are likely drawn to its crisp sound and occupational heritage, though they should expect it to be recognized primarily as a surname.
Butler derives from the Old French 'bouteillier' (Modern French 'bouteiller'), which originally referred to a servant responsible for the wine cellar. The word entered Middle English as 'buteler' or 'boteler'. As a given name, Butler has historically been used in honor of family surnames, particularly in English-speaking countries, though it remains rare as a first name. Its use peaked in the 1880s and has since maintained a low but stable level of adoption.
Sibling names for Butler
Names that share Butler's style, for a brother or sister.
